Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I still have more living to do...

I've been struggling lately between making decisions about my health and making decisions about my life. I know I have health problems but I feel that I'm too young to just hang around the house all day doing nothing, although my family is what I hold nearest and dearest to my heart, it's always been important to me to maintain my individual identity. I've always had something going on, the restaurant and the shrimp business, dog training and showing, always something. Well, Hurricane Katrina took care of the cafe' and Hurricane Ike took out the second one, I tried to open the fish pedicure spa but that didn't pan out because the state wouldn't issue a license to allow fish to eat people... I never stopped dabbling in the shrimp business, that's one industry that I've always been passionate about but I haven't been in it full swing, mostly because all of the docks, shrimp houses and ice houses along the coast are gone, due to the hurricanes, so unless you have a rig that is totally equipped with everything you'll need to make a shrimp run, it can't be done because there's nowhere to get supplies, ice, fuel...etc. Anyway, after being told that my AS has progressed, I've suddenly realized that I need to live now because there's no telling what tomorrow may bring and I'm a "no regrets" kind of girl....I've had a very adventurous life but there's still so much that I want to do, so after much soul-searching, I have decided that nothing makes me happier than being on the water and I excelled in the shrimp business, I'm sure because it came so natural to me because I'm so passionate about it...it's part of our culture and I've been on boats my whole life, there's nothing more beautiful to me than watching the sun rise on the Gulf of Mexico...and I sleep so peacefully on the water, it just brings a sense of calm and inner peace to me that I've never felt anywhere else....back to the shrimp industry, shrimp are plentiful in the Gulf since the '05 storms, we've broken records every year since then but the industry is suffering because the infrastructure is so fractured...my Dad always said, "You can be the industry or you can service the industry", well, all of those businesses that serviced the industry are gone, the shrimp houses, the ice plants, fuel stations, etc., but that's not to say that it can't be done, it'll just be a bit more difficult...but nothing worth having ever comes easy anyway...all of that having been said, here's the deal, I've purchased a shrimp boat that can accomodate the majority of what I'll need out there and I'll be the captain of this vessel...I need to get out on the water and do what makes me happy and get off this medical hamster wheel for awhile....and of course the name of this boat... KickAS....I love you all!

Absolutely wonderful story! Great luck to you. Where there is a will, there is a way! Way to go!

Laurie

Good for you!!! Go out and have a good time, enjoy life to it's fullest!

Ay Ay Captain... WOW, terrif gal. More power to your elbow and to the windjammer KickAS!!

Await hearing developments -

Molly C

OK .. I have not even ready your post but I JUST posted where are you.. ok I will go read about where you were.. OMG.. kind of freaky funny..

I am so proud of you.. and I hope I can feed off your insipration. I will need to "job hunt soon" However I am sick about doing that.. Not because I don't want to work. I love to work and love to work ard.. I am best when I am very busy.. I wish to work at something I love and someting I can call my own.. OMG Michelle how cool... Three cheers for you!!

A lot of people assume they will be 75 or 80. It is good that you are chasing your goal now and doing what you love. You just never know! Make each second count!

Thanks Laurie...

Hi G.G., thanks and I will!

Hi Molly...the owner just refinished her, nice work...she's a 42' LaFitte with a 471 Detroit diesel....I can't wait, the different shrimp seasons dictate whether you're running in the ship channel or any of the inland bayous or bays or whether you're offshore, out in the open gulf but in between, all the way down the channel are uninhabited barrier islands with white sand and I just can see myself dropping my nets and laying on the beach while the dogs run!